Gary Cohn quits as Donald Trump's chief economic adviser

Departure of the director of President Trump’s National Economic Council is the latest of a long string of high-profile resignations from the troubled presidency

(Photo: Getty Images)

Former Goldman Sachs executive Gary Cohn has resigned his post as the director of Donald Trump’s National Economic Council.

Described as an "economic-policy powerhouse" by the Wall Street Journal, Cohn has long been perceived as the economic policy brains of the Trump administration.

Mr Cohn’s departure comes on the heels of President Trump’s controversial decision to levy tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

In the wake of Mr Cohn’s resignation President Trump told the New York Times: “Gary has been my chief economic adviser and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again. He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.”

The dollar price against the yen was one of several key economic indicators that dropped sharply on news of this latest resignation.

Gary Cohn

The son of Victor and Ellen Cohn, supporters of the Capital Friends of Hillel organisation, Gary Cohn grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio,

Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, he attended four schools by the time he reached the sixth grade.

He studied at Gilmour Academy, and American University's Kogod School of Business. He graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance, Real Estate and Urban Development.

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